In the space of a year, he has certainly achieved the two best races of his career. After his title of world champion last year in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), the French skier Mathieu Faivre won the bronze medal on the giant and gleaned the 8th Olympic medal of the tricolor delegation. Everything was decided from the first race for the Niçois who had won the 3rd fastest time just 8 hundredths from the leader and favorite, Marco Odermatt. A great advantage that should not be squandered during this second round which was particularly long overdue due to heavy snowfall. It is therefore with more than 1 hour and a half late that the tricolor giantist rushed on the track. And the Frenchman again released a very high level descent.
Without delivering a particularly impressive ski, it was technically impeccable and perfectly tamed this demanding track, with holes in places. Second until the descent of the Swiss Marco Odermatt, Mathieu Faivre finally took 3rd place. “How long it was, really a very long day (…) there is always this little stress, this ball in the stomach but I tell myself that it is part of the game we cannot arrive there completely relaxed and today it paid off. (…) I really felt in the fight, in the battle, I could go so much faster but you see the conditions today it’s just daunting. We had to go after our sleeves and we don’t know what can happen. I tried to push as much as possible and I got the bronze medal, I’m really happy, ”he said at the microphone of France Télévisions.
Pinturault gave everything, the Favrot surprise
Two other tricolors were on track in this giant. Hampered by a shoulder injury contracted during the Alpine Combined, Alexis Pinturault had to settle for 5th place. A nice comeback after his 11th position at the end of the first heat. “We will say that it is better but it is not yet perfect. It’s sure at the Games, we prefer to be in the fight for the medal, I was in the fight with my weapons. The spirit of the Games is to always give the maximum, it won’t be easy for me with this shoulder pain but that’s how it is. These will not be the best Games of my career, ”he conceded in front of the cameras of France TV. The Courchevel skier set the same time as Thibaut Favrot, also 5th and a real sensation for this giant. The Strasbourgeois had only signed one podium in the World Cup so far and had no reference at the very high level.
The title goes to the favourite, the Swiss Marco Odermatt who set the fastest times in both races. He beat the Slovenian Žan Kranjec who won silver despite an 8th place after the first run.
